Plow for electrical signaling of railways



May 28, 1935.

C. V. DE SAINT-MARTIN PLOW FOR ELECTRICAL SIGNALING OF RAILWAYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1955 cwzw VicZ'br d8 (Ittorneg.

May 28, 1935. c. v. DE SAiNT-MARTIN 2,003,209

FLOW FOR ELECTRICAL STGNALING OF RAILWAYS Filed Sept 8. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/11M Snnenfor Viclbr ale 4 41. 3g ?(T 12% a m y 1935- c. v. DE SAINT-MARTIN 2.0 3209 PLOW FOR ELECTRICAL; SIGNALING OF RAILWAYS Filed Sept. 8. 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 28, 1935 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- j PLOW FOR ELECTRICAL SIGNALING OF AILWAYS Charles Victor dc Saint- Martin, Paris, France, assignor to llfichclin et Cie., Clermont-Ferrand France, acorporati on of France Application September 8, 1933, Serial No. 688,667

' In France September 10, 1932 g lZClai ns. (Cl.246'193) The present invention relates to improvements Figure 1 is a vertical central section of an imin plows for electrical signaling of railways. proved plow constructed in accordance with the The tracks of railroads: comprise sections inpresent invention. sulated from one another for purposes ofelec- 'Figure2 is'atop plan view with thecap removed.

are placed in electrical connection when the -linei3--3 ln Figure '1.

trical signaling in which the two *lines ofrails Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the 5 section is occupied by a vehicle. This electrical 'gure 4 is a'vertical section taken on the line connection is ordinarily established through the 4- 4 also in Figure 1. metallic'axles ofthe ordinary rolling stock. The r Figure 5 is a 'v'ertlcal central longitudinal secpresent invention has for its object to provide tiontaken'through a modified form of device. 10 a plow for establishing electrical connection Figure 6 is atop plan viewwith parts broken when, for any reason, the axles do not estabaway and with the cap'removed. lish it; for example, when the vehicles are sup- Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section taken ported on pneumatic tires which bear directly on the line 1--lln Figure 5,and

on the rails; or in case the electrical connection {Figure 8 is a persp'ect'ive view of the disposi- 15 is insufliciently established, for example, when tion of the plates. V the cars or locomotives with metallic wheels are Referring more particularly to the'form of intoo light. vention'shown in Figures 1 to-4 inclusive, Hl'rep- The conditions involving operation of the sigresent plates of any metal, making good electrical Q0 naling circuits demand that the connection 'becontact with the rail, indicated at H in Figures j tween the two lines of rails be a short circuit 4 and 7, and being resistant to wear. Such plates as perfect as possible. N are each applied to the rail by the pressure of The usual arrangements employing brushes, rubber blocks 12. Theserubberblocks are con rollers and plows of the type of those used. for fined by brackets l3. Such brackets are formed 35 taking current by electric vehicles, or for the with vertical walls designatedat l3, with top repetition of signals by electrical contacts, do'not plates l4 and upper diagonal flanges l5. Lower give satisfactory results for the track circuits. diagonal flanges I6 extend inwardly from the The present invention has forthe further obvertical walls l3 in order to catch beneath the ject to provide a plow formed by oneor several diagonal end portions of the plates l0. Adjustplates of relatively great length, much narrower ing screws I! are mounted in the'brackets for 30 than the rail and bearing edgewise on the rail moving adjusting plates I up and down in order to the end that the surface of contact between 'to-impose greater or less tension on the rubber. the plate and the rail is a rectangle greatly elonblocks l2, or to adjust the vertical height of the gated in the direction of motion. With this displates II in the plow frame.

position, any given point on the rail continues in The brackets carry i ter a ly r aded eyes I9 35 contact with the plate during a considerably f r trav in up and d n w h t a tsup n longer space than in the case of brushes or rolladjusting sc ews in which adjusting w a e ers. Sand, water or foreign bodies found on the mounted in .an appropriate part of the :plow rail are removed from the point of contact and frame.

40 the rail is cleaned by the passage of the plate The plow frame carries at each endaremovable 40 at the point of contact, which is not the case inclinedlip Plate 2| to assist the plow in passi ll with brushes, rollers or plows having an extended over rail joints, turn tables, and her p ints of transverse dimension. difierent levelor overobstacles. At each side of In' order that there may always be contact the plow frame is aremovable shoe 22for allowing despite lateral movements of the vehicle, and to the passage over switch points, crossings, cross- 45 multiply the points of contact, it is advantageous oversand in general over all gapsor interruptions to use several parallel. plates resting individually 1 1 railson the rail. j The plow frame is secured to the vehicleby a with the foregoing and other objects in view, can 23, of which the eyes extend about rubber the invention will be more fully described hererings 25 for deadening shocks and noise, and so flt d ill be ar particularly pointed serving as bearings for the trunnions 26. These cutsin the claims appended hereto. trunnions pro ect out laterally from opposite In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to sides of the plow frame. 'I 'he eyes 24 aremainlike or corresponding parts throughout the sevtained inplaceby metal or other straps 21, which is emlviews, j aresecured to theplow frame asby thescrewsn .55

way movements of the vehicle up and down with respect to the railway are permitted without disturbing the position of the plow upon the rail. I The plates I9 project below the lip plates 2| and the shoes 22 so that, normally, said plates alone ride on the rails ll. 'The'plates are-held to good electrical contact with the rails by the weight of the other parts of the device acting two side frame plates 43 which are spaced apart through the rubber blocks l2. The lip plates 2| do not come into contact with the rail piece except where important level differences occur, such as at rail joints, turn tables, etc.; andrthe shoes .22 do not bear upon the rail except at switch points, crossings, cross-overs and other gaps and inter ruptions in therail.

Each plate I0 is connected at its medial portion by an electric wire or conductor 3| with a common conductor plate 32, which in turn is connected to the supporting or assembling shaft 33. Spacing fingers 34 extend down from the plate 32 and between the contact plates ID to keep these plates parallel and, properly spaced. The plow or plows placed at eacliside of the-vehicle are connected together by any connection what,- ever of low electrical resistance. In proportion to wear, the plates 10 may belowered by adjusting .the screws H or 20. The plates |0 have oblique end portions at each extremity for the purpose of enabling them to easily ride over the rail joints, and also to permit the plates H] to be rotated about theirhorizontal axeswherebythey may be inverted for use on both longitudinal edges to double the life of theplates.

The removable lip plates 2| and easily replaced after use. V

' The plow framemay be made up in any suitable manner, for instance, of the two side members each composed of spaced plates 35 and36 held in spaced relation by. spacing lugs 31 which may be formed upon the exterior surfaces of the inner plates 35.and provided with screw sockets to receive the screws 38 by which the two plates are held together. ,Theseltwo plates are joined by top plates 39 and by bottom plates 40 whereby to form substantially rectangular enclosures.

The trunnions 26 project from the outer plates 36. The contact plates |0 are placed between such hollow frame members and are subject to vertical'adjustment in the frame by means of the screws Hand 20. 7

It will be understood that the construction described and illustrated may undergo various changes without departing from the spirit of the invention; also various changes may be made in the method of mounting the device upon the vehicle, the construction illustrated being only. by way of one embodiment. The trunnion arrangement permits of a rocking movement of the plow frame with reference to its support in the cap thereby enabling the longitudinal edges of the contact plates H! to accommodate themselves to the tread surface of the rail and also to have a hoes, 22 are longitudinal rocking movement enabling a freer passage over irregularities inthe rail and overrail joints, etc. 7

Referring more particularly to Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, these figures show'another form of the device in which wear does not necessitate frequent adjustment. In thiscase 4| designates the contact plates, which plates have diagonal end portions formed with lateral flanges 42 extending obliquely and adapted to engage the adjacent plates in order to space the plates apart. As.

shown in Figure 6 the ends of the plates terminate short of one another so that the flanges 42 may impinge uponthe body portionsof an adjacent plate and the plate ends will preferably present the V-formation indicated.

The group of plates arranged in this fashion present, at each end, a continuous array of inclined edges which permit passage over joints and similar obstructions.

The group of plates 4| is held in position by diagonal end pieces 44 by rubber blocks 45. These rubber blocks are seated in strips 46 mounted in cut-away portions in the upper edges of the contact plates 4|. Above the blocks are transverse beams 41 carried by the frame members 43. Set screws 48 are threaded in the beams 41 and act througharcuate caps 49 to impose pressure on the rubber blocks45. The socket strips 46 prevent longitudinal movement of the plates 4| with respect vtovthe beams 41 but they permit within limits a vertical movement which is cushioned by the rubber blocks ,45.

The cap 50 is used to connect the plow frame to the vehicle. Such cap carries eyes or bearings 5| containing rubber rings 52 for lessening shocks and noise and serving as a joint between the vehicle and the trunnions 53. which project inwardly from theside frame members 43. The cap 50 is connected to the vehicle in the same manner as previously described, or in any other appropriate manner.

I .Also each plate 4| is connected by electric wires or connections 54 with the common contact plate 55, such wires 54 being flexible.

As in the former case the plow or plows at each side of the vehicle are connected electrically by low resistance connections.

The pieces 43 rest on the rail only in passing over great. obstructions, such as rail joints, turn tables, or in passing over switch points, crossings, cross-overs and in general gaps or interruptions in the rails.

. When the plates 4| become worn, the action continues the same without having'to make an adjustment. When the wear becomes very great, it may benecessary, if there is much inequality between the central plates and the longitudinal plates, to equalize the height of, the plates by shortening the higher ones.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the device as illustrated and described'without departing from the spirit of the invention and I reserve the right to make all such changes and modifications as may fall within the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. A plow for electric signaling on railroads comprising a plow frame, a cap, trunnions between the cap and the medial portion of the frame, the axes of the trunnions being transverse mounted therein, rubber'blocks in the brackets, and contact plates having V-shaped ends for reversal mounted in said brackets against the blocks.

3. A plow for electric signaling on railroads comprising a plow frame including side frame members having trunnions, resilient rings about the trunnions, a cap having bearings embracing the trunnions and rings, confining means to hold the bearings and rings on the trunnions, and contact means in said frame.

4. A plow for electric signaling on railroads comprising a plow frame having inclined end pieces, long thin contact plates having inclined ends fitting downwardly upon the end pieces, said plates having cut-away portions, socket strips lying across the plates and in the cut-away portions, rubber blocks bearing on said socket strips, and adjustable backing means for the blocks above same and supported on said frame.

5. A plow for electric signaling on railroads comprising a long thin plate bearing edgewise on the rail, means for adjustably suspending said plate from a railroad vehicle, an electric connection from the plate to the signaling circuit of the vehicle, and separate lip plates for raising the contact plates to assist said plow in passing over obstacles.

6. A plow for electric signaling on railroads comprising a plow frame, a plurality of long thin contact plates held in said frame with their long narrow edges exposed beneath the frame for contact with the rail, electrical connections from the plates to the signaling circuit of the Vehicle, means adapted to vertically adjust said plates in the frame, separate lip means for each end of said plates adapted to assist said plow in passing 7 over obstacles.

'7. A plow for electric signaling on railroads, comprising a plow frame on the railroad car, long thin contact plates in said frame and their lower thin edges exposed below the frame for contact with a rail, yieldable means for urging said plates downward with reference to the frame, means adapted to regulate the tension of said yieldable means, and separate lip means at each end of said plow frame adapted to assist said plow in passing over obstacles.

8. A plow for electric signaling on railroads, comprising a plow frame, a plurality of contact plates held side by side in said frame and being long and thin with their lower long edges exposed below the frame for contact with a rail head, elastic means in said frame for urging the plate downwardly, adjustable means in said frame for vertically adjusting said plates and elastic means and separate lip plates at each end of said plow frame adapted to assist said plow in passing over obstacles.

9. A plow for electric signaling on railroads, comprising a plow frame, a plurality of long thin contact plates, means to hold the plates yieldably and in parallel relation in the frame with the edgewise dimensions of the plates substantially vertical, spacing means to hold the plates a predetermined distance apart and separate lip plates at each end of said plow frame adapted to assist the plow in passing over obstacles.

10. A plow for electric signaling on railroads comprising a plow frame, and contact plates therein disposed edgewise in a substantially vertical direction side by side, said contact plates having flanges turned at their opposite ends to engage an adjacent plate and thereby space the plates apart.

11. A plow for electric signaling on railroads comprising a plow frame, a tube fitted for ver,

tical movement but restrained against turning in the car, a cap suspended from the tube, pivotal connections between said cap and plow frame, elongated thin contact plates in the frame bearing at their edges upon the rail, and separate lip plates at each end of said plow frame adapted to assist said plow in passing over obstacles.

12. A plow for electric signaling on railroads comprising a plow frame, contact plates in the frame having long thin edges contacting the rail head throughout substantially their entire length, a cap connecting the plow frame to the vehicle, pivotal connections between said frame andcap intermediate the ends of the frame, the axes of said pivotal connections being transverse to the railroad, and separate lip plates adapted to assist said plow for passing over obstacles.

CHARLES VICTOR DE SAINT-MARTIN. 

